Solar eclipse of September 12, 1950 explained

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit between Monday, September 11, 1950 and Tuesday, September 12, 1950,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0182. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide. Occurring about 3.2 days before perigee (on September 15, 1950, at 8:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

Totality was visible from eastern Soviet Union (today's Russia) on September 12 local time and the whole Semichi Islands in Alaska on September 11 local time. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Northeast Asia, Alaska, Hawaii, and northwest Canada.

Eclipse details

Shown below are two tables displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. The first table outlines times at which the moon's penumbra or umbra attains the specific parameter, and the second table describes various other parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[3]

September 12, 1950 Solar Eclipse Times! Event! Time (UTC)
First Penumbral External Contact1950 September 12 at 01:23:43.1 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction1950 September 12 at 02:46:30.5 UTC
First Umbral External Contact1950 September 12 at 02:50:01.6 UTC
First Central Line1950 September 12 at 02:50:40.3 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact1950 September 12 at 02:51:19.4 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction1950 September 12 at 03:29:21.7 UTC
Greatest Eclipse1950 September 12 at 03:38:46.9 UTC
Greatest Duration1950 September 12 at 03:40:16.3 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact1950 September 12 at 04:26:44.1 UTC
Last Central Line1950 September 12 at 04:27:25.6 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact1950 September 12 at 04:28:06.7 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact1950 September 12 at 05:54:06.6 UTC
September 12, 1950 Solar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Eclipse Magnitude1.01818
Eclipse Obscuration1.03668
Gamma0.89030
Sun Right Ascension11h18m51.6s
Sun Declination+04°25'42.1"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'53.5"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.7"
Moon Right Ascension11h20m32.5s
Moon Declination+05°11'38.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'04.0"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°58'57.9"
ΔT29.4 s

Eclipse season

See also: Eclipse cycle. This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.

September 26
Ascending node (full moon)
Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 124
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 136

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1950

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 124

Inex

Triad

Inex series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: September 12, 1950 Total Solar Eclipse. timeanddate. 4 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 4 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Total Solar Eclipse of 1950 Sep 12. EclipseWise.com. 4 August 2024.